The Albina Ministerial Alliance is right to criticize new Portland Police Chief Mike Reese for hiring former Portland Business Association vice-president Mike Kuykendall for a civilian police oversight position.
The Portland Business Association has been a long proponent of anti-civil rights laws against those experiencing homelessness in our community and an opponent of progressive policies - including spending - meant to decrease poverty. Reese choose Kuykendall, a personal friend who plays in a band with Reese, instead of an independent voice that could have brought creditability to a bureau in trouble. Let me be clear about this, however: I don't know Kuykendall or his personal views. It is the hiring process that is concerning, not necessarily Kuykendall himself, and the symbolism for a city rocked by crisis after crisis in the bureau.
The AMA is wrong, however, to insist that a person of color fill the position, as The Oregonian reports they have demanded. That would obviously violate civil rights laws but the cronyism employed by the chief reflects poorly on his own commitment to civil rights and diversity.
Strike one, Chief Reese.
